Air gun



E. E. MILES AIR GUN Filed April l, 1922 2 Sheets-Sheet l Aug. 5 l 924.

*El E. MILES AIR GUN 2 sheerssheet 2.

` Filed April 1, 1922 :5; ,QFQI X Patented Ang. 5, 1924-.

EUGENE E. MILES, OF AKRON, OHIO.

AIR GUN.

Application filed April 1,

T0 all whom it may concern Be it known that l, EUGENE E. MrLns, a citizen of the United States, residing at Akron, in the county of Summit and State of (Ehio, have invented a certain new and useful Improvement in Air Guns, ot which the following' is a full, clear, and exact description, ret'erence being had to the accompanying drawings.

rhis invention relates to guns and has particular reference to an air gun or riiie in which the pellet is expelled by air pressure from a spring actuated plunger.

The primary object ot the present invention is to provide an air gun in which the plunger shall be actuated by a compact form of multiple spring action which shall be capable of expelling the pellet with a higher muzzle velocity, greater accuracy, and longer range, than is normally obtainec with those guns employing a plunger actuated by a single spring.

Another object is to provide means tor cushioning the plunger at the end ot its compression stroke thereby to relieve the parts from dangerous impact and also to render they gun quiet in operation.

Another object is to provide a cocking and tiring mechanism which shall be simple. compact and positive in operation and which shall be so constructed and ranged that the cooking lever will be nor mal'ly retained against the gun stock, but which shall permit said lever to be eas" ily moved a slightdistance therefrom before the plunger springs are engaged hence permitting the operator to r'fully grasp the gun stock while operating said lever uo place the plunger springs under compression.

Anther object is to provide a cooking and tiring mechanism which shall be so constructed and arranged that the parts shall be securely retained in cocked position and thereby avoid accidental discharge of the gun due to jarring or sudden shocks but which shall permit the gun to be easily tired by a slight pull on the trigger.

A stilll 'further object is to provide a gun of the aforesaid character which shall be simple in construction, highly efficient in operation and which shall be properly balanced and present a neat appearance.

With these and other objects in view, the invention consists in the various novel teatures of construction and arrangement or combination, all of which will be fully de- 1922. Serial No. 548,553.

scribed hereinafter and appended claims.

ln the accompanying drawings wherein l have shown one form or' my invention, F ig. 1 is a longitudinal sectional view through a gun constructed in accordance with my invention showing the parts in cocked position and ready to tire; Figs. y2 anl 3 are similar views showin@` the parts in the discharged position and partly cocked `position respectively; Fig. 4 is an enlarged detail sectional view showing the cocking and tiring mechanism; F ig. 5 is a sectional view taken on the line 5-5 ot F ig. 1;`and F ig. (i is an enlarged vertical sectional view through the plunger head y and associated parts.

Describing by reference characters the various parts illustrated, 1 denotes the gun barrel which is secured by means ot the threaded connection 2 to one end of a plun pointed outy in ger cylinder indicated at 3. The opposite A end of this cylinder is secured by means l'of l:he threaded connection 4 to a housing 5 enclosing the cooking and tiring mechanism which will be fully described hereinafter. 6 denotes the stock which is secured to housing 5 by bolts 't' in the usual or any approved manner.

Slidably mounted within the cylinder 3 is a plunger 9, the head'whereot' is litted with a sealing disk 10 formed trom leather or other suitable 'materialL The opposite end of the plunger head is provided with a threaded boss 11 which receives a longitudinally disposed tube 12.A A plunger rod 14 is arranged within tube 12 and is threaded into the plunger head as indicated at 15. The opposite end of this rod is provided with a threaded portion 16 and a latch 17, threaded portion 16 having engaged therewith an internally threaded bushing 18 which is provided with aA collar 19 which abuts the end of the tube 12. A coiled spring 20 is disposed about tube 12 and arranged between plunger head 9 and housing 5 and a ysecond coiled spring 21 is disposed about rod 14 and arranged between boss 11 and a sleeve 22 slidably mounted on said rod. Sleeve 22 is Jformed with a depending bi` it'urcated projection 23 which is pivotally connected with one end of a cooking lever 25. A pair of links 26 are pivoted at one end to the cocking lever at 27 and at the other end said links are pivoted on a bolt 28 extending'. transversely through housing 5. This bolt also has pivotally mounted thereon a hammer 29 which is disposed he tween links 26, lt will be noted in this connection that pivot point 27 is disposed above a line connecting pivot 28 and the pivotal connection between the end ot cooking lever 25 and projection 2S, hence when the gun is in the cocked position as shown in Fig. lg the pressure of spring 2l will normally retain the cooking lever against the gun stock. Then the gun i, in the discharged Yposition as shown in 2 the lever may he easily moved a slight distance from the gun stock, as sleeve 22 may he moved rearwardly a slight distance before it alouts bushing 18. rlhis permits the gun stock to he fully grasped at its smallest portion before the springs are placed under compression.

Pivotally mounted between the links 26 is a cam lever 30 which engages with a stud 32 arrano'ed transverseljT of housii'ig rl`his lever is adapted to engage with a projection 33 formed on the hammer 29 to rotate said hammer in a clockwise direction when the gun is cocked as will be more fully eplained hereinafter. A second projection 315; is formed ou hammer 29 and this projection is adapted to engage with a linger 3F formed on a trigger 36 which is pivotally mounted in the lower portion of housing A spring 37 interposed between said trigger and the housing normallv urges Enger 35 into engagement with the hammer.

A detent Ll0 is pivoted within housing as indicated at el, and is adapted to engage with latch l to retain the piston in retracted position, this being accomplished by a spring pressed pawl l2 engaging a Yirojection i3 on said detent. The han'iiner i 1r rinallj' urged in a counter clockwise Y u hy a spring` 45 (Figs, l, 2` 3 and i which has one end thereof coiled alieni pivotal point il on one side ot detent il@ and then coiled in an opposite direction ahon" pivotal point 28, whence said spring pa. through the hammer and about pivotal points and ll on the ojiposite `side ot said hammer and detent.

The mechanisn'i for cushioning the end ot j'iiunger stroke after the gun is .tired shown in detail. in Fig. 6. This mechanism comprises a spring pressed valve il? which is slidably mounted in plunger head G in longitudinal alignment with the rifle here. The valve is normally urged by spring -l-S to a position slightly in advance ling disk l0 and when the plunger es i will `seal the inner end of the rifle here therebyY trapping a small volume of air in more" i i f-tlie cylinder which cushions the end of the ward in cylinder 3, the valve 47 gun har l is beveled as indicated at 49 so that the ight impact of sealing disk l0 -rewith will gradually form a leather edge rlhis Jfeather ec ge (which purposes of illustration i ufawings) ellective in providing lit seal with cylinder 3 during the disv trolie ot the plunger.

iV i

.he dislr.

Aing plug having a transverse :herethrough is rotatably mounted in the gun barrel. This plug `is proif'ided with a handle 5l preferably extending in a directif-n parallel with bore such handle 'ng rotation ot the loading plug. ne part s are so arranged that when 'the handle is at right angles with the gun barrel, bore will be in alignment with a vertical here 'formed in the top oi: the gun barrel and a pellet may be introduced loading plug bore. Handle 544 is now g parallel with the gun barrel which places bore .'33 and the pellet therein in alignment with the rifle here.

e. imingv that the gun is in the dis Charo-ed position as shown in Fig. 2, the ,n will he as follows: Cooking lever s pulled away trom the gun stock to the clown in Fig. 3. This serves to "nger i) against the tension ol' xilso hy virtue ot the movement 2li, the cam lever 3() rides over stud and engages projection 33 on hammer 2f) and rotates said hammer in a clockwise direction to a degree suliicient to permit linger to engage projection Sil and retain said hammer in retracted position t tension oi spring 45. Latch li' on the end of the plunger rod will also engage an upstanding projection 60 on detent Ill) and rotate said detent in a clockwise direction to a point where paw] Ll2 engages projection lil ou said dete-nt to hold said detent against a counter clockwise rotation, is the rocking lever moved hack toward the stoclr, latch l? will engage with detent il0 and retain the plunger in retracted position against the tension of spring 20. During the return movement ct cooking lever 25, the sleeve will slide forward on plunger rod lll and compress spring 2l. As the cooking lever approaches the gun stock, pivotal point 2'? will rise above a line connect ing pivotal point 28 and the inner pivoted end of the cooking lever, and hence the pres sure of spring 2l will serve to retain the coc-king lever against the gun stock, and contactot said lever against the stock will serve to retain spring 21 under compression. A pellet is now introduced into the rifle bore as previously described and the gun, as shown in l, is ready to lire. This is accomplished by pulling trigger 35 which retracts @nger f trom its projection and i position wiwi permits hammer 29 to rotate in a counter clockwise direction under the influence of lll) lUU

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spring elo. Hammer 29 strikes the. upper end of pawl 42 and moves said pawl away from projection on the detent 40. Plunger latch l? exerting a strong pull on the detent above the pivotal point 41 thereof causes said datent to rotate sufficientlyto disengage the plunger rod and permit the plunger to move forward in cylinder 3 under theV influence of springs Q0 and 2l. The air compressed in cylinder S forces the pellet through the riiie bore at high velocity. As the plunger approaches the gun barrel, it is cushioned as previously described.

Having thus described my invention, what I claim is:

l. In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a gun barrel, of an air compression cylinder operatively connected with said barrel, a piston in said cylinder, a pair of independent springs for operating said piston, said springs being disposed one within the other, and means for placing each of said springs successively under compression.

In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a` gun barrel, of an air compression chamber operatively connected' with said barrel, a piston in said chamber, a pair of independent springs for operating said piston, and means for placing each of saidh springs successively under compression.

3. In a. gun of the character set forth, thel combination with a gun barrel, of a cocking and tiring mechanism housing, an air compression cylinder arranged intermediate said barrel and housing, a piston in said cylinder, a rod connected to said piston,` a spring interposed between said piston and said housing, a second' spring interposed between said piston and a movable abutment on said rod,I and means for ,moving said abutment thereby to place said springs under compression.

4. In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a gun barrel, of aV cocking and tiring mechanism housing, an air compression cylinder arranged between said barrel and housing, a piston in said cylinder', a pair of independent springs operatively connected with said piston, a cocking lever pivoted in said housing, and means connecting said lever and said springs whereby movement of said lever in one direction will compress one of said springs and movement in an opposite direction will compress the other of said springs.

5. In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a gun barrel, of an air compression chamber operatively connected with said barrel, a piston in said chamber, means for operating said piston in said chamber, and a valve slidably-mounted in said piston and adapted to seal saidl champact between said piston and said gunbarrel.

6; In a. gun of the' character set forth; the

combination with a gun barrel, of4 an' air compression chamber operatively connected'y with said barrel, a piston in said chamber, means for operating said piston in said cylinder,and a valve slidably mounted in said'- piston in alignment with the bore of said gun barrel, said valve being yieldingly mounted in said piston and normally` carried in advance thereof.

7. In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a gun. barrel, of an air compressionv chamber operatively connected' with said barrel, a piston in. said chamber, means for operating said piston in said cylinder, and a valve slidably and yield-ingly mounted; in said piston and adapted to sealv said gun barrel adjacent the end ofthe discharge strok-e of said piston.

8. In a gunV of the character set-forth, the combination with a gun barrel, of an airl compression chamber operatively connected with said barrel.V a. piston in said chamber, a relatively thick leather sealing disk carried by said piston and means associated' with said gun barrel for forming and maintaining' a relatively small feather edge on said disk. y

9. In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a gun barrel` of'an air compression chamber operatively connectedv with said barrel, a piston in said chamber, and a resi-lient sealing'disk carried by said piston and adapted to contactk with said gun barrel,Y the body portion of said disk being sufiiciently thick to maintain substantially Va constant diameter on the discharge stroke of said pistoin and said gun barrel having the peripheral edge of the inner end thereof beveled thereby to form a relatively small feather edge on said' sealing disk.

l0, In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a gun barrel, of an air compression chamber operatively connected with said barrel, a piston in said chamber, a pair of springs for actuating said piston and a cooking lever operatively connected to said springs and movable in opposite directions to compress said springs separately and successively.

1l. In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a` gun barrel, of an air compression chamber operatively connected with said barrel, a piston in said chamber, a pair of springs for actuating said piston, a cooking lever operatively connected to said springs and movable in opposite directions to compress said springs separately and successively, and means connected to the lever to urge the same by the compression of the springs toward the housingand the gun stock when the lever is swung to cocked position.

l2. In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a gun barrel, of an air compression chamber operatively connected with said barrel, a piston in said chamberxr a pair of springs for actuating said piston, a cocking lever operatively connected to said springs and movable in opposite directions to compress said springs separately and successively, and means connected to the lever to urge the same by the compression of the springs toward the housing and the gun stock when the lever is swung to cocked position, and to permit the lever to fall away from the housing and stock when the pressure of the springs is released by firing the gun.

13. In a gun of the character set forth. the combination with a gun barrel` of a cocliing and firing mechanism housing, an air ,compression cylinder arranged between said barrel and housing, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod connected with said piston and having a latch operatively connected therewith and extending into said housino, a spring for actuating said piston in a given direction, a detent within said housing adapted t0 engage said latch to retain said piston against the tension of said spring, a

pawl for retaining said detent against rotation, a trigger, and means interposed between said trigger and pawl whereby movement of the former will release said latch.

14. In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a gun barrel, of a cooking and firing mechanism housing, an air compression cylinder arranged between said bar` rel and housing'. a piston in said cylinder, a pair of independent springs operatively connected with said piston and adapted to urge said piston in a given direction, a piston rod connected with said piston and having a latch operatively connected therewith, a detent adapted to engage said latch, a paw] for retaining said detent against rotation, a hammer adapted to contact with said pawl and release said detent, a trigger, and connections between said trigger and hammer whereby movement of the former will cause said hammer to'release said pawl.

In a gun of the character set forth, the combination with a gun barrel, of an air compression cylinder operatively connected to said barrel, a piston in said cylinder, a piston rod connected with said piston, a spring for urging said piston in a given direction, a member slidably mounted on said piston rod and engaged with said spring, and a cooking lever operatively connected to said member, the fulcrum of said lever being movable through the arc of a circle.

16. In a gun of the character set fort-b, the combination with a gun barrel, of an air compression cylinder operatively connected to said barrel, a cooking and firing mechanism housing connected to said cylinder, a piston arranged within said cylinder and having a piston rod connected therewith and projecting into said housing, a pair of independent springs disposed about said piston rod, a member slidable on said piston rod and engaged with one of said springs and adapted to engage an abutment on said piston rod, a cooking lever operatively connected to said member, and a link pivoted adjacent one end within said housing and adjacent the opposite end to said lever, thereby to form a fulcrum for said lever, said lever'being adapted to move said piston against the tension of one of said springs when moved in one direction and place the other of said springs under compression when moved in an opposite direction.

17. In a gun ofthe character set forth, the combination with a gun barrel, of a cooking and tiring mechanism housing, an air compression cylinder arranged intermediate said barrel and housing, a piston in said cylinder, a rod connected. to said piston, a spring interposed between said piston and said housing, asecond spring interposed between said piston and a movable abutment on said rod, and a cocking lever connected to said abutment and adapted to move said abutment in one direction to compress one of said springs and in an opposite direction to compress the other of said springs.

In testimony whereof, I hereunto adir my signature.

EUGENE E. MILES. 

